, 1887-03-08
A GRAVE PROBLEM.
TOUCHING THE VITAL SPOT IN
OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

berod Among tho Hundred Millions?
A Serious Matter.
Sunset Cox once said that a greaier and
a grave problem. than hat of taxes and
finance was sure to arise in the future,
and n future not very far off, and it is a
question that touches the vital spot in our
form of government. That is the ques-
ton Of apportionmsnt. The apportion-
ncnt upon which the present house OF
representatives is based is the work main
ly OF Mr.. Cox, and he spent many weeks
in most assiduous labor in preparing the
bill. 1t looks very easy, but it is not. All
you have got to do Is to decide how many
people shall be entitled to a representative,
and then divide the total population of
each state by this figure. That will give
the number of representatives each state
Is entitled to. But the troublc is to fix
the ratio. 1t is a growing trouble, and it
is going to be very difficult. Mr.. Cox in
deed is disposed to think that it may be-
come u very dangerous trouble, and due to
the fact that some time or other, not many
generations hence, the population Of the
United States will be numbered among the
100, 000, 900. There won't be any trouble
about raising crops enough to feed 1,000,-
600, 900 in this country. The whole popu-
lation, So, 1000, 900 by the census of 1880,
might be placed in the state Of Texas and
not be crowded any more than the people
of Great Britain are crowded. But when
our population passes 100, 900, 900 one OF
two things must happen. Either the num-
Der OF the members of the house of repre-
sentatives must be increased to an abb
surdly large figure, or the smaller states
and those whose population shows the
least percentage of increase must see their
-oNrnCApfattA~ Il. A.. lA,ra -Ancfo,Ntlr
dwindling way. Mr.. Cox, in 1880, was
obliged to cut down the number of repre-
%sentatives in Vermont, New Hampshire
and Maryland. Nevada wouldn't have
had any representative but for the consti-
tutional provision guaranteeing each state
one, and If the ratio had been q few thou
sands larger Delaware would, but for the
constitution, AVE lost its single repre-
sentative.
Mr.. Cox's first idea was to fix the num-
Der upon which representation is based at
a larger figure thar that adopted, but the
rebellious protests from states which
would thereby lose a representative or
two were so great that he did not do it.
Yet 1t is found that the present member
ship of the house, 1926, is too large, both
for convenience and for efficiency in trans
acting business. Motions have already
DCOh llihtio " ichioNc II dcoh dhQ oCa
the members, as in the English parlia-
ment, on benches. II at the next appor-
tionment, which follows the census taken
three years hence, the number of repre-
sentatives is increased, congress will be
obliged either to enlarge the present cham
Der of the house or huddle the members
together on benches. Mr.. Cox Is inclined
to think that there will be needed in the
congress that follows that census the high.
est qualities OF prudence and statesman
ship, in order to prepare an apportion-
ment bull that will stand the least chance
Of becoming q law. One thing is certain
If the present ratio Is retained the house
will number between 400 md 500 mem
bers; while, on the other hand, II the num-
Der which makes the basis is increased
many of the older states will lose repre-
sentatives; to only ono or two will be al
lotted any increased number, while the
new states in the Mississippi valley will
in any event nave greatly increased rep
r~esentation. 1t is estimated that the pop
ulation in 1890 will be found to be be-
tween IS, DOC, 900 and 69, 900, 900, a greater
number than any republic ever had, u
greater number than any limited or CON
stitutional monarchy now has. AT least
70 per cent. of this increase will be found
beyond tho Mississippi and 90 per cent. Of
it beyond the Alleghanies.
If, then, it be decided that no state Is
to lose its present number of representa-
tives, the number of members in the next
house will be 450 approximately. New
York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania
would gain-New York two, probably,
the other two states one, possibly; but it
is probable that not another state east Of
the Allegbenies, with the possible excep-
tf4n - Gnorwtn xrz,ll nasn N .,f-r1a AVA
of the 1875 new members, Nor would
there be any great gains in any of the
states east of the Mississippi. 1t is prob
ablo that from 90 to 100 of these new
members would be apportioned to the
great states west of the Mississippi. Texas
would press New York very hard as the
state having the largest representation,
Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Mins
nesota and Dakota, in admitted, would
gain an increased representation of from
40 to 60 per cent, and Oregon, California
n Washington, if it is admitted, would
rival many Of the older states in the num-
Der Of their representatives.
But it will be difficult to induce any
congress to pass an apportionment bill
fixing the number of new members Mt a
larger figure han $50. Should that mum
Der be selected it would fix the ratio Of
representation approximately at one Tor
each 1876, 900 Of population. This would
certainly very greatly reduce the represen-
tation of the older states, and, il the mum
Der of members be kept at the present
figure (320, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Rhode Island, Florida n Nevada would
pc represented by only one member each;
Maine, Connecticut md Maryland by
three; and it is doubtful if n single state
east of the Alleghanies would gain n mem
Der. Since the census OF 1910 the states
on the Atlantic slope have steadily lost.
New York once had AZ members, Massa-
IS, Virginia 90, Maine Z, Connec-
ticut 5; but though the population of none
these states has decreased, and the total
is more than twice us great rs
1t was in 1910, and the number OF mem
bers Of the house more than four times as
many as were in the First congress, yet
since 1910 every STATE on the Atlantic
has lost representation. And though
by the year 1000 our pcpulation will be
far from 90, 900, 900, hess states must
either submit to further LOSSES or else the
house of representatives must be consti-
tuted the largest legislative body in his
tory.-New York Sun.